Japanese GP 2025, the 3rd round of F1. Pre-race simulations, based on data provided by the teams, suggest an improvement in lap times due to the combination of the innovative asphalt, which offers greater grip, and the progress of the 2025 cars, with an estimated gain of over one second. This data will be verified in the first two hours of track activity on Friday.
Based on information provided by the teams, technicians have made a slight adjustment to the minimum starting pressures, balancing them between the two axles: the front pressure has been reduced by half a psi (from 25 to 24.5), while the rear has been increased by the same amount (from 23 to 23.5). The data collected on Friday will be quickly analyzed to compare with the simulations and make any necessary adjustments.
It will be crucial to observe whether, as happened in China during the second race of the season, the new asphalt will have a decisive impact on performance and what the track evolution rate will be, considering that Suzuka is one of the most frequently used circuits of the year (having already hosted two competitive events in 2025).
Tires for Suzuka
As previously mentioned, the hardest three compounds in the range will be used for the 2025 Japanese GP. It is important to note that while the C1 is similar to its 2024 version, the C2 and C3 (especially the C2) have been modified to offer better performance, making them softer compared to the previous year.
It will be interesting to see how teams manage tire allocation during the three free practice sessions, aiming to optimize car setup while also considering race strategy.
Suzuka Layout
Suzuka is one of the most fascinating and demanding tracks on the F1 calendar, as well as the only one shaped like a figure-eight. Owned by Honda—which built one of its main factories in the city of Mie Prefecture in 1960—it is considered a challenge both in terms of driving and car performance.
The 5.807-kilometer circuit includes 18 corners—some of which have become legendary in the sport’s history, such as the Esses in the first sector and the iconic 130R—and has remained largely unchanged over the decades. Besides the already mentioned updates to the track surface, minor tweaks have been made compared to last year, with some curbs and grass areas being modified.
The most significant changes involve Turn 9, where a single curb has been replaced with a higher double curb, and Turns 2, 7, 9, 14, and 17, where the synthetic grass run-off areas have been replaced with gravel.
Lateral Tire Forces
What forces act on a tire in a high-level competition like F1? Tires are subject to complex forces that directly impact their performance and durability. The main forces acting on the only contact point between the car and the track are vertical, lateral, and longitudinal, deriving from the vehicle’s weight and the aerodynamic load generated by the wings and the car’s floor.
Lateral forces develop when the car takes a corner: in this case, weight shifts to the outside of the turn, generating lateral forces that increase with cornering speed—reaching up to 4G—and putting the tires under stress. Sudden accelerations and heavy braking, typical of tracks with tight corners following long straights, produce longitudinal forces that can reach 5G.
Suzuka is one of the most demanding circuits for tires in F1, particularly due to the high lateral forces they endure. On Pirelli’s classification scale, Suzuka reaches the highest rating of 5, a score shared with other tracks such as Barcelona, Silverstone, Spa, Zandvoort, and Lusail.
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